A Practical Checklist for Reviewing Scientific Website Content

Scientific website content should make information understandable without making its evidence appear stronger than it is. A short editorial review can catch problems before publication. The aim is to make claims readable and checkable, not to turn every webpage into a journal paper.

Connect claims with evidence

List factual statements and identify a supporting source for each. Separate general educational explanations from claims about a particular organisation or service. A general scientific reference does not establish that a specific business has been independently assessed.

Check terminology and scope

Explain unfamiliar terms where necessary. Remove wording that goes beyond the source. Words such as proven, guaranteed and certified deserve particular scrutiny: what precisely do they describe, and what evidence supports their use?

Review images and documents

Captions should describe images accurately. Label illustrations, sample reports and placeholder data clearly. A realistic-looking document should not be mistaken for an actual result. Retain units and explanatory information when presenting charts.

Make review manageable

Assign a reviewer and record the date, outstanding questions and sources. Keep unresolved material in draft. When the source changes, review the claim itself rather than merely updating the date displayed on the webpage.

Read as a first-time visitor

What would a reader reasonably infer? Can they identify the source? Are limitations visible? Does the page distinguish information from advice? Clear wording and honest presentation offer more value than extra jargon or stronger-sounding claims.